Apple Macintosh Performa 6400/180 vs Apple Macintosh Quadra 840AV

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Macintosh Performa 6400/180 compared with Macintosh Quadra 840AV

	AppleMacintosh Performa 6400/180	AppleMacintosh Quadra 840AV
Overview
Released
Released	1996	1993
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (Performa 6400)	68040 40 MHz (Macintosh Quadra 840AV)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	16 MB (better)	4 MB
Storage
Storage	1.6 GB (better)	230 MB to 1 GB
CPU
CPU	180 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and a 64-bit 40 MHz bus. The 256 KB Apple High Performance Module L2 cache is optional, unlike the standard cache of the 6400/200. The shared Service Source calls the processor 603ev; the exact specification page and original brochure use 603e.	40 MHz Motorola 68040 with integrated memory management and floating-point unit, 8 KB L1 cache and 32-bit data path; separate 66.67 MHz AT&T 3210 DSP
GPU
GPU	1 MB built-in video DRAM, not expandable; 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 at 16-bit colour, 832 × 624 and 1024 × 768 at 8-bit colour. A separate PCI graphics card is needed for additional capabilities.	Built-in video with 1 MB VRAM supports 16-bit colour at 640 × 480 and 8-bit at 1024 × 768; 2 MB VRAM raises those to 24-bit and 16-bit respectively
Memory type
Memory type	8 MB soldered to the logic board and an 8 MB DIMM supplied; two 168-pin 64-bit fast-page-mode DIMM sockets support up to 136 MB total, with 70 ns or faster memory.	Four 72-pin SIMM slots; Apple supports 4–128 MB total with 60 ns memory
Storage type
Storage type	1.6 GB internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy drive and tray-loading 8× CD-ROM. The shared service manual lists a 1.2 GB drive and AppleCD 600i for generic 6400 configurations; the exact 180 MHz support page and ordering brochure agree on 1.6 GB and 8×.	Internal 1.44 MB floppy drive, SCSI hard drive in Apple's 230 MB–1 GB range and optional 2× CD-ROM drive
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	Two PCI 2.0 slots for 6.88-inch cards with Mac drivers; Communications Slot II occupied by the supplied modem, plus positions for optional video input and TV/FM tuner cards. One pre-cabled 5.25-inch internal SCSI bay. Optional Avid Cinema requires the Apple Video System and occupies one PCI slot; it is not supplied with the standard 180 MHz configuration.	Three NuBus slots
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	Headphone jack	Ethernet
Front ports
Front ports	3.5 mm headphone output and volume buttons; optional infrared remote support.	–
Back ports
Back ports	DB-15 monitor output, ADB, DB-25 external SCSI, two GeoPort-compatible serial ports, 3.5 mm sound input compatible with PlainTalk microphones and line-level 3.5 mm speaker output. The supplied modem provides 28.8 Kbit/s data and 14.4 Kbit/s fax; replacing it with an Ethernet card provides wired networking. Optional video input handles composite and S-video NTSC, PAL or SECAM.	Apple Desktop Bus, DB-15 video, DB-25 SCSI, GeoPort, printer and modem serial ports, AAUI-15 Ethernet, S-video and RCA video input and output, microphone input and speaker output
External displays
External displays	–	Built-in video supports up to 1152 × 870 pixels; colour depth depends on VRAM
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in full-range monophonic speaker switches to subwoofer operation when external speakers are connected. 16-bit stereo input/output at 11.025, 22.05 or 44.1 kHz; SRS surround processing applies to rear sound output, not the front headphone jack.	–
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Keyboard, mouse, cables and bundled applications listed for US order M5167LL/A; display, TV/FM tuner, Apple Video System, Avid Cinema and PC Compatibility Card are optional. Gallery image includes an optional monitor.	–
Design and power
Type
Type	Tower	Tower
Weight
Weight	–	11.48 kg
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	198 × 428 × 406 mm	196 × 400 × 356 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Original brochure lists 40.6 × 19.8 × 42.8 cm (height × width × depth), matching the service manual. Weight is 20.18 kg without the monitor and varies with installed devices; the service manual explicitly excludes the CD-ROM drive. The technical booklet transposes depth and height labels.	Apple's 14 × 7.7 × 15.75 inch and 25.3 lb reference dimensions; metric fields are rounded conversions
Power supply
Power supply	Exact specification page and ordering brochure list 220 W maximum, 100–125 or 200–240 V AC at 47–63 Hz. The shared service manual agrees on 220 W maximum continuous but gives wider voltage bands; the original technical booklet instead states 140 W input and 98 W DC output. These conflicting ratings are retained rather than treated as measured consumption.	Maximum 200 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 3.6 V lithium clock battery
In the box
In the box	Original System Software 7.5.3 with System Enabler 410 v1.1. Apple lists 5 August 1996 as introduction; the original 1996 ordering brochure and contemporary MacUser review establish sale in 1996, but a distinct first-sale month remains unresolved.	Original System Software 7.1 with System Enabler 088. Apple lists 29 July 1993 as introduction; a separate first-sale month was not established.